Comparison of project portfolio management practices in the public and private sectors in Brazil

Abstract

Purpose Project portfolio management (PPM) is a managerial technique used to seek the strategic goals of organizations improving their performance. The public sector has some characteristics that differ from the private sector, since their management approaches are different. The purpose of this paper is to compare the PPM’s practices and techniques in the public and private sectors. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses the study case methodology through eight case studies that were undertaken in Brazil: four in public and four in private sectors. The field research used semi-structured interviews that were analyzed using the NVivo software. Findings In both sectors, strategic alignment is the goal of PPM, and the same tools are employed. The public sector displays better process documentation and lower risk awareness than the private sector, showing an improvement point for the public sector. The selection and prioritization criteria differ from each sector, showing the difference in the strategic goals of public and private sectors. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this paper are related to the number of organizations studied; however, the case studies represent organizations from different sectors and industries maximizing heterogeneity, but focusing on Brazil. Social implications The prioritization and effective allocation of projects spending in the Brazilian public sector could be improved with the comparison of their current practices with the ones used in private sector, increasing its transparency and cost allocation. Originality/value This study broadens the understanding of PPM in the public sector, which is a gap in the academic literature, comparing its practices with those used in the private sector.

Agile project portfolio management as a strategic enabler in the Brazilian marketplace: five case studies and one substantive theory

“…However, management approaches in public and private sectors are different, even though the strategic alignment is the objective of the PPM. The public sector displays better process documentation and lower risk awareness than the private sector (Maceta and Berssaneti, 2019).…”

“…Therefore, there is a strong relationship between PPM and performance (Padovani and Carvalho, 2016) based on efficient quality and improved earnings. PPM is a managerial technique used to seek the strategic goals of organizations, improving their performance (Maceta and Berssaneti, 2019). Furthermore, increased performance and capitalization of opportunities improve responses to market changes and critical operational tasks (PMI, 2013).…”

Combination of Computational Techniques to Obtain High-Quality Gelatin-Base Gels from Chicken Feet

“…According to Maceta, P.R.M., Berssaneti [ 48 ] and Cardoso et al [ 49 ], considering the increased demand for natural foods and the variety of food choices, producers aim to differentiate their products to gain consumers. Therefore, producers may invest in new products, such as gelatine or collagen from chicken feet, which is considered a nutritive food, leading to increased consumption of the healthy food products, and increasing the quality of life of consumers.…”

Prioritization Model for IT Project Portfolio Management in Private University: A Literature Review

“…Once the business strategy is formulated, decision makers identify both potential investment areas and the available economic resources for each project. These techniques are discussed in further detail in research articles [12], [29].…”

“…Furthermore, increased user productivity and satisfaction can be achieved by supporting their activities, such as learning, teaching, and research. This can be done by creating an attractive and comfortable physical environment that meets the evolving expectations of users and increasing the flexibility of buildings and interiors [12].…”